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A Review of the Resources and Industries of the State of Washington, 1909 by Ithamar Howell
page 105 of 198 (53%)
the sources of the great irrigation systems now fathered by the
national government and making the Yakima valley a veritable garden
pot of orchards and vegetables, grasses and flowers.

RESOURCES.

The central portion of the county is a valley comprising 250,000
acres, about one-fourth of which is under irrigation, and has long
been noted for its prolific crops of hay and many herds of dairy
cows.

The foothills of the mountains have precious metals, coal and iron.
The streams abound in trout and much game is in the mountains.

TRANSPORTATION.

The Northern Pacific and Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroads,
coming into the county from the south and west, cross at Ellensburg
[Page 66]
and then follow the valley of the Yakima to the crest of the Cascades
giving abundant facilities for making markets east and west to all
parts of the country.

PRINCIPAL TOWNS.

ELLENSBURG, the county seat, is situated on a level bench in the
Yakima valley and on the railroads. It is a town of upwards of 5,500
people, and is substantially built, chiefly of brick. There are
creameries, flourmills, sawmills, and warehouses, banks, breweries
newspapers, electric lights, and gravity water system, churches,
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